Fixture for bending terminals



Feb. 17,1959 RUNGE 2,873,787

FIXTURE FOR BENDING TERMINALS Filed Nov. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1959 H. F. RUNGE FIXTURE FOR BENDING TERMINALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1954 MXWNMX ATTOP/V'y United. States. Patent 2,873,787 FIXTURE FOR BENDING TERMINALS Heinz F. Riinge, Chicago, 111., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 26, 1954, Serial No. 471,233 Claims. (Cl. 153-20) This invention relates to apparatus for bending terminals and more particularly to a device for bending simultaneously a plurality of terminals in different planes.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved device for accurately bending terminals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for bending simultaneously a plurality of parallel staggered terminals of a step-by-step switch spring assembly.

An apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the invention for bending simultaneously a plurality of staggered parallel terminals of a step-by-step switch spring assembly may include a movable die for forming the ter minals, a pivoted holder having spaced upright pins and for nesting the spring assembly'and for moving it into a position whereby the die when actuated will engage the terminals, and means responsive to the pivoted holder when in proper work position for actuating the forming die to form the terminals about the pins.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of the apparatus forming one embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device with a spring assembly nested in the holder,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the forming die and the spring assembly before the forming operation,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the forming die in engagement with the formed terminals of the spring assembly after the forming operation,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the spring assembly after the forming operation,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the spring assembly after the forming operation,

Fig. 7 is a section of the forming die taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2, and,

Fig. 8 is a section of the forming die taken on line 88 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings there is shown a spring assembly 11 having a plurality of parallel staggered terminals 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 such as the device of the present invention is adapted to form. The terminals 13-18 and 19-24 are secured to opposite sides of the upper portion of a block 27 and are separated by thin fiat insulators 28 whereby they are in different planes.

A holder 29 having a handle 31 and a nesting recess 32 for receiving the spring assembly 11 is pivotally connected to a housing 33 by a pivot pin 35 (Fig. 2). A plurality of rectangular vertical pins 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 are secured to the holder 29 in spaced echelon arrangement so that, when a spring assembly 11 having terminals 13 to 14 to be formed is nested in the holder 29, the pin 37 engages the terminals 13 and 14, the pin 38 engages the terminals 15 and 16, the pin 39 engages the terminals 17 and 18, the pin 40 engages the terminals 2 19 and 20, the pin 41 engages the terminals 21 and 22, and the pin 42 engages the terminals 23 and 24.

The'housing 33 supports switches 44 and 45 which are manipulated by switch actuators 47 and 48 each having one end projecting from the housing 33, the switches being of a well-known type which closes momentarily when actuated. Plates 50 and 51 are rigidly secured to screws 52 and 53 which are threaded into the pivoted holder 29 to alternately engage the actuators 47 and 48 to manipulate the switches 44 and 45. The plates 50 and 51 may be adjusted relative to the holder 29 to vary the distance which the holder 29 must be moved to operate switches 44 and 45, the holder 29 being manually moved to bring the plates alternately into engagement with the actuators. Lock nuts 55 and 56 are provided to maintain the adjustment of the plates 50 and 51 relativeto the holder 29.

A reciprocable forming die 59 which is made up of a plurality of interleaved plates 60, 61, 62 and 63 is secured by a shaft 65 to a piston 67 of an air cylinder 68 for reciprocation therewith, plates 60 and 62 being of the same configuration and plates 61 and 63 being of the same configuration. The plate 60 has forming surfaces 78, 71 and 72 for engaging and forming the terminals 15, 19 and 23, respectively; the plate 61 has forming surfaces 74, 75 and 76 for engaging and forming the terminals 13, 17 and 21, respectively; the plate 62 has forming surfaces 78, 79 and 80 for engaging and forming'the terminals 16, 20 and 24, respectively; and the plate 63 has forming surfaces 83, 84 and 85 for engaging and forming the terminals 13, 18 and 22, respectively; The forming surfaces cooperate with the pins 37-42 to-form the terminals as the forming die 59 is advanced. V

Movement of the forming die 59 is controlled by a solenoid valve 87 which controls the operation of the air cylinder 68. The switches 44 and 45 are connected to the solenoid valve 87 in such a manner that, when actuator 47 (or 48) is engaged by a plate 50 (or 51) to close the switch 44 (or 45) the solenoid valve 87 is operated to allow compressed air to enter the air cylinder 68 to advance the forming die 59 to engage and form the terminals of the spring assembly 11.

A- retract switch 88 having an actuating element 89 carrying a roller 91 is supported above a housing 33 by brackets 92 to permit the roller 91 to roll along a moving shaft 65 which actuates the forming die 59, the retract switch 88 being normally open. .A cam 93 is provided at one end of the shaft 65 to engage the roller 91 to lift it and close the retract switch 88 at the end of the advance stroke of the forming die 59. The retract switch 88 is connected to the solenoid valve 87 'to operate it to allow compressed air to enter the air cylinder 68 to retract the forming die 59. Thus, actuation of the switches 44 and 45 operates the air cylinder 68 to advance the forming die 59 toward the spring assembly 11 to simultaneously bend the terminals 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (or 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24) and actuation of the retract switch 88 by the cam 93 operates the air cylinder 68 to retract the forming die 59. The retract switch 88 is supported by slotted brackets 92 so that its position may be varied to vary the length of the stroke made by the forming die 59, which varies the amount which the terminals 13-24 are bent.

A spring pressed latch 95 is provided to maintain the holder 29 in the loading position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In operation a spring assembly 11 is nested in the holder 29 with the holder maintained in the loading position by the latch 95 as illustrated in Fig. l. The holder 29 is then pivoted clockwise until the terminals 13-18 are in alignment with the forming die 59 at which time the plate 51 engages the switch actuator 48 to close the switch 45. The

closing of the switch 45 operates the solenoid valve 87 to allow compressed air to enter the air cylinder 63 to advance the forming die 59 to engage and form the terminals 1318 which are in alignment with the forming die 59, the forming surfaces 74, 83, 70, 78, 75 and d4 engaging and forming the respective terminals 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 about the pins 37, 38 and 39 as illustrated in Fig. 4. When the forming die 59 reaches the end of its advance stroke the cam 93 lifts the roller 91 and the actuating element 89 to close the retract switch 88 and operate the solenoid valve 87 to retract the forming die 59. The holder 29 is then pivoted counter-clockwise until the plate 50 engages the actuator 47 to close the switch 4-4 to operate the solenoid valve 87, which advances the forming die 59 to form the terminals 19-24, the forming surfaces 71, 79, 76, 85, 72 and 80 engaging and forming the respective terminals 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24- about the pins 44), 41 and 42. After the terminals on opposite sides of the block 27 have been formed the holder 29 is returned to the loading position (Fig. 1) where it is held by the spring pressed latch 95 as the finished spring assembly 11 is removed and another spring assembly is placed thereon for forming.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming projecting portions of an article comprising a movable forming die, a movable holder for holding the article and for moving the projecting portions of the article into alignment with the forming die, means for actuating the forming die, means responsive to the position of the holder for controlling the actuating means to advance the forming die to form the projecting portions, means responsive to the position of the forming die for controlling the actuating means to retract the forming die, and means for varying the position of the holder relative to the forming die at which position the actuating means is controlled to advance the forming die whereby it engages the projecting portions of the article at predetermined adjustable angles.

2. An apparatus for forming an article comprising a supporting means, a movable forming die mounted on the supporting means, means for actuating the forming die, a holder pivotally mounted on the supporting means for holding an article and for moving it into alignment with the forming die, means responsive to the position of the holder for controlling the actuating means to advance the forming die to form the article, means responsive to the position of the forming die for controlling the actuating means to retract the forming die, means for varying the distance of travel of the forming die, and means carried by the holder for varying the position of the holder rela- 4 tive to the forming die at which position the actuating means is controlled to advance the forming die whereby it engages a predetermined portion of the article in a pre determined manner.

3. A device for forming an article having a plurality of projecting portions comprising a supporting means, a movable forming die mounted on the supporting means, a holder pivotally mounted on the supporting means for holding the article and for moving it into a position whereby the projecting portions are in alignment with the forming die, said forming die having a plurality of faces for engaging and forming the projecting portions of the article, actuating means responsive to the position of tr e holder for advancing the forming die to form the projecting portions, and means for varying the position of the holder at which the actuating means is controlled to advance the forming die to form the projecting portions of the article.

4. A device for bending a plurality of spaced terminals in different planes, which comprises a reciprocable bending die having a plurality of faces in different planes for bending the terminals, a movable holder for holding the terminals and for moving them into alignment with the bending die, said holder including a handle and a plurality of spaced posts secured to the holder for cooperating with the terminals and the faces of the bending die to bend the terminals, means for actuating the bending die, means responsive to the position of the holder for controlling the actuating means to advance the bending die to bend the terminals about the said posts, means for varying the position of the holder at which the controlling means operates the actuating means to advance the bending die, means responsive to the position of the bending die for controlling the actuating means to retract the bending die, and means for varying the distance of travel of the bending die.

5. A device for bending a plurality of terminals secured together in spaced relationship, comprising a base, a forming die movably mounted on the base, a holder movably mounted on the base for supporting the terminals, a plurality of pins secured to the holder passing between the terminals for cooperating with the forming die to bend said terminals about the pins, and means on the base responsive to the position of the holder and the pins for actuating the forming die.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,889 Roehm Jan. 26, 1937 2,108,025 Shaw Feb. 8, 1938 2,438,999 Hartley et al Apr. 6, 1948 2,443,793 Lensky June 22, 1948 2,681,683 Raymond June 22, 1954 

